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Community
Young Israel of Far Rockaway Celebrates its Golden Anniversary PHOTO CREDIT: SAM ULRICH
The Dinner Chairman, Akiva Fried, and his committee, arranged a spectacular event, replete with surprise guests, including Mr. Joseph Lhota, the Republican candidate for NY City mayor, who addressed the crowd, and Ms. Melinda Katz, the candidate for Queens Borough President, who was accompanied by Curtis Sliwa, founder of The Guardian Angels. Ms. Katz was most gracious and animated as she presented the Rabbi Chill, Bernard Frankel, Melinda Katz, Akiva Fried YIFR with a room at Congregation Knesseth Israel proclamation from the Queens Borough to capacity, as YIFR paid tribute to its President, congratulating the Shul on its glorious past, bridging it with the future. 50th anniversary, its decades of proacThe evening’s tone was immediately set by the beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Shlomo Schwed. Immediately thereafter, the audience was treated to a most poignant moment when Pesach Osina, Akiva Fried, Melinda Katz, Curtis Sliwa their attention was drawn to a video screen, and long-time tive community service and best wishes beloved member Norman Rosenman, for the future. Also in attendance were who now resides out of state, appeared such dignitaries as NY State Assemblyon-screen to sing the Hatikvah, as he man Philip Goldfeder, Pesach Osina, had always done in previous years. He and Richard Altabe. We were also honthen delivered a personal message to the ored with the presence of Rabbi Yaakov Shul membership. The emotion in the Bender, Rosh Hayeshivah of Yeshivah Darchei Torah, who presented one of room was palpable.
Rabbi Chill, Pessi and Michael Steinberg, Bernard Frankel, D. Bernard Hoenig, Akiva Fried
N O V E M B E R 7 , 2013
History was made on Sunday, October 27th, as the Young Israel of Far Rockaway celebrated fifty years of service to the Far Rockaway Jewish community since its inception in 1963. An unprecedented turnout filled the ball-
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Around the
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Robert Hagler, Bernard Frankel, Joseph Lhota, Akiva Fried, Curtis Sliwa
the awards. emotion as people expressed what YIFR The Shul paid tribute to its Guests of has meant to them, the distinguished Honor Michael and Pessi Steinberg, and Rabbis including YIFR Rabbi Emerto the other honorees, Rabbi Yaron Hal- itus Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Goodman bertal, Kathy Rosenberg, and Shoshana and our present Morah D’Asrah Rabbi Solomon, for Shaul Chill, honored their efforts guests, famon behalf ily members, of our Shul and friends and comof YIFR, all munity. The served to tribute to make this YIFR itself, evening most however, memorable. was a most compelling We are aspect of j u s t i fi a b l y the dinner, proud of the Daniel Berger, Rabbi Ephraim H. Sturm, D. Bernard Hoenig as the Shul’s decades of YIFR memearly history was movingly recounted by Shul bership’s serving on the Mikvah Comfounders like Rabbi Ephraim Sturm mittee, Chevra Kadisha, and West Lawand Mr. D. Bernard Hoenig, both in rence Civilian Patrol, and our housing the Vaad Tzedaka for many years. We person and in video footage. One evening highlight was our raffle likewise are involved in various types of drawing, which included some wonder- outreach within our community. YIFR ful prizes. The spirit, video, including has been a mainstay of the Far Rockaseveral comedic moments by Michael way community for fifty years. May the Steinberg, music, delicious menu pre- next fifty years make us even prouder. pared by Sharmel Caterers, the heartfelt
Robert Hagler, NY State Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder, Rabbi Shaul Chill, Pesach Osina